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Post by hummingbirdstones on Apr 28, 2019 13:19:01 GMT -5
I saw that, too. Gee, if only I had that big saw, I'd be sure to snap it up. LOL! We've got a big saw!  |
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minerken
Cave Dweller 
Member since August 2013
Posts: 466 
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Post by minerken on Apr 28, 2019 14:08:35 GMT -5
Just looked at the posting I would say that that is a classic covellite with chalcocite specimen.You know whats really funny. There were thousands of tons of covellite mined in Butte some veins were up to 7" wide some maybe wider and run hundreds of feet long and deep . There are still probably thousands of tons left the only thing that shut Butte down is economics it is far from mined out. If one could make a deal with Denny Washington you could probably open a vein in the Berkley pit (after pumping millions of gallons of water) and saturate the world market for covellite in a matter of a day or two for years to come.
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minerken
Cave Dweller
Member since August 2013
Posts: 466
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Post by minerken on Apr 28, 2019 14:37:13 GMT -5
ps. I said 7" I meant 7'
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Post by rockjunquie on Apr 28, 2019 14:41:52 GMT -5
I saw that, too. Gee, if only I had that big saw, I'd be sure to snap it up. LOL! We've got a big saw!  OK, halfsies. I just have to get DH to approve- NOT! He'd kill me! |
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Post by rockjunquie on Apr 28, 2019 14:43:11 GMT -5
Just looked at the posting I would say that that is a classic covellite with chalcocite specimen.You know whats really funny. There were thousands of tons of covellite mined in Butte some veins were up to 7" wide some maybe wider and run hundreds of feet long and deep . There are still probably thousands of tons left the only thing that shut Butte down is economics it is far from mined out. If one could make a deal with Denny Washington you could probably open a vein in the Berkley pit (after pumping millions of gallons of water) and saturate the world market for covellite in a matter of a day or two for years to come. I'm sure it is cost prohibitive to pump out all that water. If the price of covellite goes down, they'd be up the proverbial creek. |
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Apr 28, 2019 14:45:37 GMT -5
We've got a big saw! OK, halfsies. I just have to get DH to approve- NOT! He'd kill me! Yeah, I could do it, but I don't think I'd want to invest that much in one rock! |
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Post by catmandewe on Apr 28, 2019 17:26:30 GMT -5
Maybe he said Gem grade Calcocite, and I may have misunderstood him.
Tony
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Post by catmandewe on Apr 28, 2019 17:34:43 GMT -5
Wanna go halfsies?  I have seen that piece before. That piece belongs to my buddy Alex and Doc has the other half. I have a piece that is 49 lbs but I havent been able to bring myself to cut it yet. Tony |
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Apr 28, 2019 18:28:39 GMT -5
Wanna go halfsies?  I have seen that piece before. That piece belongs to my buddy Alex and Doc has the other half. I have a piece that is 49 lbs but I havent been able to bring myself to cut it yet. Tony 49 lbs?  ??  |
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Apr 28, 2019 18:32:05 GMT -5
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Post by rockjunquie on Apr 28, 2019 21:01:11 GMT -5
Wanna go halfsies?  I have seen that piece before. That piece belongs to my buddy Alex and Doc has the other half. I have a piece that is 49 lbs but I havent been able to bring myself to cut it yet. Tony I'd be tempted to cut a wee pound off. No one would ever notice....  |
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Post by catmandewe on Apr 28, 2019 21:03:11 GMT -5
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Post by rockjunquie on Apr 28, 2019 21:22:11 GMT -5
Thank you for finding it and posting the pictures! I was reading last night about some brown material, but I don't remember which one it was. You can see the pyrite, though. Mine doesn't have any pyrite. Is it all metallic? Is that, indeed, brown? It looks like it on my monitor. Is it real heavy? I wonder if minerken knows what it is? I have only begun to memorize the copper minerals out vegasjames' way and have idea about some of the other stuff. |
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Post by catmandewe on Apr 29, 2019 10:20:49 GMT -5
Most of those pictures are dry, I think two of them are wet to show the color better. Its mostly metallic looking with some lavender spots and the pyrite spots, it is heavy. When polished it looks like chrome with some weird veining or spots in it.
Tony
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Post by rockjunquie on Apr 29, 2019 10:46:27 GMT -5
Most of those pictures are dry, I think two of them are wet to show the color better. Its mostly metallic looking with some lavender spots and the pyrite spots, it is heavy. When polished it looks like chrome with some weird veining or spots in it. Tony Sounds interesting. I don't think I have seen anything like it. |
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minerken
Cave Dweller
Member since August 2013
Posts: 466
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Post by minerken on Apr 29, 2019 11:31:16 GMT -5
I actually don't know for sure but let me speculate  . Chalcocite is a secondary mineral and forms pseudomorphs very readily. If you notice the blobs are somewhat akin to the clusters of chalcopyrite present in a more natural form. I would call these relic textures probably but not necessarily clusters of chalcopyrite that have not been completely replaced but very very close. The coloration is probably due to the left over elements which have been kicked out of the " chalcopyrite" lattice. That specimen looks as if it was obtained in what was called the chalcocite blanket from the upper/ oxidized zone of the deposite which was probably the richest single zone in the Berkely pit and made surface mining profitable in the late 80's. They actually moved a large part of the town of Butte ( the Columbia Gardens district) in order to exploit it. Mind you this is speculation based on a picture but I think it is probably right. |
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Post by rockjunquie on Apr 29, 2019 11:37:16 GMT -5
I actually don't know for sure but let me speculate  . Chalcocite is a secondary mineral and forms pseudomorphs very readily. If you notice the blobs are somewhat akin to the clusters of chalcopyrite present in a more natural form. I would call these relic textures probably but not necessarily clusters of chalcopyrite that have not been completely replaced but very very close. The coloration is probably due to the left over elements which have been kicked out of the " chalcopyrite" lattice. That specimen looks as if it was obtained in what was called the chalcocite blanket from the upper/ oxidized zone of the deposite which was probably the richest single zone in the Berkely pit and made surface mining profitable in the late 80's. They actually moved a large part of the town of Butte ( the Columbia Gardens district) in order to exploit it. Mind you this is speculation based on a picture but I think it is probably right. I'm not sure I should say this but I have to- I love it when you talk dirty. LOL! Seriously, I learn something new here everyday. I'm getting a bigger picture of the Leonard operation. So, I'm guessing the mine owners bought out the residents? |
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minerken
Cave Dweller
Member since August 2013
Posts: 466
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Post by minerken on Apr 29, 2019 13:10:08 GMT -5
Well now forum rock sex talk hum. Let me clarify something what I am talking about is not a single operation the Butte district is composed of many mines the Leonard being a shaft designation for only one. The Butte Hill as it is sometimes called is only a small area in the district. Most of these individual mines on the hill were actually connected at some point in time with underground tunnels/drives. The whole of the system is very complex although it is mostly known for copper ores it is said that recovery of precious metals gold, silver etc more than paid for the mining operations. As I said I have a very fond spot in my heart for Butte but I am far from being an expert. Back to rock sex it has been said that at one time there where 10,000 miners and 10,00 whores in Butte.
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Post by rockjunquie on Apr 29, 2019 14:07:08 GMT -5
Well now forum rock sex talk hum. Let me clarify something what I am talking about is not a single operation the Butte district is composed of many mines the Leonard being a shaft designation for only one. The Butte Hill as it is sometimes called is only a small area in the district. Most of these individual mines on the hill were actually connected at some point in time with underground tunnels/drives. The whole of the system is very complex although it is mostly known for copper ores it is said that recovery of precious metals gold, silver etc more than paid for the mining operations. As I said I have a very fond spot in my heart for Butte but I am far from being an expert. Back to rock sex it has been said that at one time there where 10,000 miners and 10,00 whores in Butte. Oh my. Busy. |
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minerken
Cave Dweller
Member since August 2013
Posts: 466
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Post by minerken on Apr 29, 2019 16:14:28 GMT -5
to answer the question yes they bought out the owners. They also put the salvage rights up IIRC you signed up for a house paid a buck and had rights to salvage all you wanted before a destruction date, first come first serve.
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?? 
. Chalcocite is a secondary mineral and forms pseudomorphs very readily. If you notice the blobs are somewhat akin to the clusters of chalcopyrite present in a more natural form. I would call these relic textures probably but not necessarily clusters of chalcopyrite that have not been completely replaced but very very close. The coloration is probably due to the left over elements which have been kicked out of the " chalcopyrite" lattice. That specimen looks as if it was obtained in what was called the chalcocite blanket from the upper/ oxidized zone of the deposite which was probably the richest single zone in the Berkely pit and made surface mining profitable in the late 80's. They actually moved a large part of the town of Butte ( the Columbia Gardens district) in order to exploit it. Mind you this is speculation based on a picture but I think it is probably right. 
. Chalcocite is a secondary mineral and forms pseudomorphs very readily. If you notice the blobs are somewhat akin to the clusters of chalcopyrite present in a more natural form. I would call these relic textures probably but not necessarily clusters of chalcopyrite that have not been completely replaced but very very close. The coloration is probably due to the left over elements which have been kicked out of the " chalcopyrite" lattice. That specimen looks as if it was obtained in what was called the chalcocite blanket from the upper/ oxidized zone of the deposite which was probably the richest single zone in the Berkely pit and made surface mining profitable in the late 80's. They actually moved a large part of the town of Butte ( the Columbia Gardens district) in order to exploit it. Mind you this is speculation based on a picture but I think it is probably right. 
